Shelf assembly



March 28, 1961 J. A. HERTZMAN 2,977,173

SHELF ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 28, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

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SHELF ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 28. 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY m, ddw

March 28, 1961 J. A. HERTZMAN I 2,977,173

SHELF ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 28, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IHIII 'MIIII IN V EN TOR.

ent size or for different purposes.

United States SHELF ASSEMBLY John A. Hertzman, 4427 /z Walnut St., Kansas City 11, Mo.

This invention relates to furniture utilizing shelving support structure for storage purposes and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a simplified shelf assembly having interchangeable and replaceable elements.

Shelving support structure is utilized in many different types of furniture such as bookcases, cabinets, bureaus, desks, and the like. Most furniture of this character is adapted for fixed purposes and cannot be readily adapted for other purposes. For example, a bookcase is not readily changeable in size, nor can it readily be provided with a cabinet front, drawers or the like. The various portions comprising an ordinary piece of shelf furniture are usually permanently attached, are notreadily replaceable in case of damage, and cannot be changed in size or rearranged for a different purpose. Furthermore, ordinary types of shelving construction are unnecessarily complicated and heavy, particularly when employed with drawers, cabinet fronts or the like. Most shelving constructions are not efiiciently adapted for mass production, nor are the parts of one type of construction ordinarily interchangeable with the parts of self assemblies of differ- Such conventional constructions are customarily shipped in their bulky, completely assembled forms and cannot be knocked down for shipment.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved basic shelf construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shelf construction having interchangeable parts and adapted for ready assembly or disassembly or revision in form.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shelf construction having relatively few interchangeable elements capable of being assembled into a wide variety of forms. 7

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shelving construction efliciently adapted for addition or elimination of accessory portions such as drawers, cabinet fronts or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved shelf assembly having a minimum number of mm o" A specific object of the invention is to provide im- Figure 1 is a perspective, partly schematic view of a shelf assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective, partly schematic view of another shelf assembly utilizing basic elements the same as Figure l;

' or similar to the elements utilized in the construction of h apertures 15b are designated 150.

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Figure 3 is a perspective, partly schematic view of a third shelf assembly using the same basic elements as the assemblies of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a shelf assembly according to the present invention illustrating the addition of drawer and cabinet elements to the basic shelf construction; a

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a drawer slide arrangement as shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a cabinet panel and door slide retainer of the type illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the retainer construction shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a cabinet panel retainer clip as shown in Figure 4;

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the retainer clip as shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a cabinet panel corner retaining clip as shown in the construction of Figure 4; and

Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of the corner retaining clip as shown in Figure 10'.

The basic shelf assembly of Figure 1 is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and includes three main elements, namely, rigid planar shelves 11 of rectangular planform, interchangeable shelf support elements 12, and shelf assembly leg constructions 14. The word planform in the specification and claims is a composite word made up of two words, plan and form and means the form of the plan or in other words, the configuration in plan view.

The shelves 11 may be formed of any rigid or semirigid planar material such as wood, plywood, metal, plastic or various laminated constructions. A steel Masonite laminate construction has been efficiently utilized for this purpose. Each of the shelves is provided with a plurality of attachment apertures 15. For ease of description the apertures at the front corners are designated 15a, the apertures at the rear corners 15b, and the apertures along the rear edges spaced inwardly from the The distance between apertures 15b and is equal to the distance between apertures 15a and 15b, and each set of three apertures defines an isosceles right triangle.

The shelf support elements 12 and their arrangement are important portions of the present invention. These elements are interchangeable and each consists of a generally rigid body of steel, aluminum, wood, plastic, or the like having three attachment portions 16, 17 and 18, respectively. The three attachment portions 16, 17 and 18 define the corners of a triangular figure, specifically a right triangle with a line between the attachments 17 and 18 constituting the hypotenuse. It is essential that the attachment portions 16 and 18 be rigidly spaced from the attachment portion 17 and to this end, in the present embodiment, the body portion of the support elements 12 comprises a rigid vertical bar 19 extending between the attachment portions 16 and 17 and an integral rigid diagonal bar 20 extending between the attachment portions 17 and 18. The exact form of the support elements shown is not essential and the construction may be one piece or multipiece as long as the right triangle arrange- 3 22 are threadedly inserted over the threaded ends of the bolts. Wherever necessary, washers 25 may be utilized (Figure 8).

The leg construction 14 includes vertical front legs 26 secured below the 'front attachment apertures a of the lowest shelf 11 and vertical rear legs 27 secured below the inwardly spaced rear attachment apertures 15c of the same shelf. The legs are braced by a pair of cross diagonals 28 extending between the legs 26 and 27 and by a pair of corner diagonals 29 extending from each of the legs to the rear corner attachment apertures 15b. The legs and the diagonals may be formed of any suitable rigid material such as that used for forming the support elements 12,

A pair of support elements 12 is secured between the opposite end portions of each adjacent pair of shelves 11. The elements are secured in perpendicular planes and in such a manner that they support the shelves against vertical loads by front vertical support continua formed at the positions of the attachment apertures 15a by the legs 26 and the rods 19 of the support elements 1'2 and rear vertical support continua formed at the positions of the attachment apertures 150 by the legs 27 and the associated vertical rods 19. In this manner the necessary vertical supports are provided but at the same time added rigidity for the shelves is achieved since the rear vertical supports are spaced inwardly of the side edges to reduce the bending moment. The rear corners of the shelves are supported through the diagonal rods either in compression or tension and at the same time the diagonals provide lateral support to resist side loads from any direction. Thus, each of the shelves is sup ported at all four corners but with the rear edge vertical support continua advantageously spaced inwardly from the edges.

It is important to note that the support elements 12 between any given set of shelves 11 never touch, and each of the attachment portions of the support elements is positioned at a different attachment aperture 15. The attachment portions of adjacent support elements are thus spaced at least as far apart as the shortest distance between attachment portions of a single support element. Support elements or leg assemblies connected on the other sides of respective shelves 11 utilize the same attachment means. In this manner a minimum number of attachment apertures and attachment bolts are necessary.

It will be readily apparent that not only does this construction achieve maximum utility from a minimum of materials but at the same time it assures a minimum of labor cost in assembly. Furthermore, the shelves 11 and support elements 1'2. are interchangeable and replaceable.

The assembly need not be limited to three shelves since any practical number of shelves may be utilized by following the pattern shown.

Figure 2 illustrates a modified shelf assembly 39 which includes longer shelves designated 11a but of essentially the same construction as the shelves 11 of Figure 1. Since the shelves 11a are longer, additional attachment apertures 15 are provided at 15d in the center portion near the front edge and 15a directly to the rear adjacent the rear edge. The same basic support elements 12 are utilized in the shelf assembly 30 and in the same manner as described in connection with the assembly 10 except that additional support elements 12 are secured at the attachment apertures 15d and 15e between the respective shelves. An additional front leg 31 is provided below the lowest shelf 11a at the attachment aperture 15d to provide an additional front vertical support continuum through the associated vertical bars 1? of the centrally located support elements 12. To increase the stability of the leg 31 diagonal bar 32 extend between this leg and each of the back legs 27. The hypotenuse bars 241 of the centrally located support elements 12 provide additional support for the central portion of the rear edges of the elongated shelves.

It will be seen that the shelf assembly 30 is essentially the same as the shelf assembly 10 except that the shelves are extended and additional center support is provided through the leg 31 and the centrally located support elements 12. The shelves can thus be extended to any practical length merely by inserting additional support elements and associated legs, preferably alternating the legs and the associated vertical continua from front to rear.

The construction of Figure 3 is basically the same as that of Figures 1 and 2 except that shortened shelves designated are provided. The same support elements 12 are utilized but one of the attachment apertures is eliminated so that a single rear leg 27 and a single rear vertical support continuum are provided. In this construction only three support elements 12 are required between each pair of shelves but the arrangement is such that all four corners are supported as before with an inwardly spaced vertical support continuum being provided adjacent the center of the rear edge to rigidity the shelves while simplifying the construction.

Figures 4 through 11 illustrate means for incorporation and attachment of accessory members in the basic shelf assemblies. Referring to Figure 4, a pair of drawers 35 are incorporated between the upper pair of shelves 11a. The drawers may be of any suitable construction and material and are formed with horizontal side sup port grooves 36 adjacent the upper and lower edges of the side panels of each of the drawers. Drawer support channels 37 are connected adjacent the upper edges of the upper drawer 35 and adjacent the lower edges of the lower drawer 35. The drawer support channels are formed of any suitable rigid material such as metal or the like and are of modified 2 cross section as shown in Figure 5 with a horizontal leg 38, an integral vertical leg 39 and a horizontal return bent integral drawer slide leg 40. The drawer slide legs of a pair of channels 37 are slidably disposed in the opposite grooves 36 of each of the drawers to slidably support the drawers spaced from the upper or lower shelves 11a.

The drawer support channels 37 are advantageously and efficiently connected to the shelves 11a by means of the existing attachment bolts 21 so that additional attachment means are not necessary and at the same time the drawers are directly supported from the shelf support elements. Since the drawer slide grooves 36 are provided adjacent the upper and lower edges of each drawer, the drawers are interchangeable.

Between the lower pair of shelves 11a of Figure 4 auxiliary cabinet forming members are provided including sliding doors 41, side panels 42 and a rear panel 44 (Figs. 8 and 9). The doors 41 are slidably disposed in parallel grooves of upper and lower door slide channels 45. The side panels 42 are spaced laterally outwardly adjacent the opposite ends of the door slide channels 45, and the side panels and the door slide channels are eificiently secured in place by means of slide-panel retainers 46. The retainers 46 may be formed of any rigid material such as metal or the like, and each includes a horizontal bolt attachment portion e7, an integral vertical panel support finger 2-8 and a pair of integral horizontally oiiset slide attachment portions 49. The vertical finger 48 is provided with a horizontal end tang 50 which is inserted into an aperture 51 formed through the adjacent side panel 42. The horizontally offset portions 49 are-inserted through a cut-out 52 in the horizontal edge of the side panel adjacent the front, and the ends of each of the attachment fingers 49 extend into the ends of the parallel grooves in the adjacent door slide channel 45. It will be understood that additional slide-panel retainers 46 are provided at the other front corner portions of the side panels 42 to secure these corner portions and to secure the other door slide channel ends. The slide-panel retainers 46 are advantageously connected to the shelf assembly by means of the existing bolts 21, eliminating the need for additional attachments means and supporting the side panels at the connection points of the support elements 12.

The central edges of the back panel 44 are supported by means of retainer clips 54 which may be formed of any suitable rigid material such as sheet metal or the like. The clips 54 include a horizontal attachment portion 55 and three integral vertically extending retaining fingers 56. The middle finger 56 is arranged to engage one side of the central edge of the back panel while the other two fingers engage the opposite side, as clearly shown in the figures. A cut-out 57 is provided in the adjacent horizontal edge of the back panel in order to accommodate the horizontal connection portion of the middle finger 56. It will be understood that retainer clips 54 may be advantageously located at the attachment apertures 150, or at the attachment apertures 15c (Figure 2), or at both positions, depending upon the particular arrangement. Bolt apertures 58 are formed through the horizontal attachment portion 55 in order to accommodate the bolts 21.

It will be understood that retainer clips 54 are positioned at corresponding locations adjacent the upper and lower edges of the back panel. As was the case with the drawer slide channels 37 and the slide-panel retainers 46, the retainer clips 54 are advantageously connected to the shelf assembly at the points of attachment of the support elements 12 to eliminate the necessity for additional attachment means and to support the back panels directly from the support elements 12.

In Figures and 11 is illustrated an efiicient means for connecting the side panels'42 to the back panel 44, comprising a rear corner retaining clip 59 formed of a suitable rigid material such as sheet metal or the like. The corner clip 59 is generally right angular, having two fiat inner legs 60 connected at right angles, each of which is provided with an outwardly offset parallel end portion 61 connected to the inner legs by short central portions 62. The inner legs 60 are disposed against the adjacent inner faces of the side panels and the back panel and the outer legs 61 are disposed against the adjacent outer faces of these panels with the central connecting portions 62 extending through openings 64 formed through the panels at the proper positions as indicated. Thus, the rear corners of the panels are connected to one another by means providing freedom of expansion and contraction to prevent buckling of either of the panels, such as could occur if panels of this type were rigidly connected to the shelves at their corner junctions.

It is readily apparent that the closure panels 42 and 44 may be located inwardly of the support elements 12 as shown or outwardly of the support elements, and if desired, such closure panels may be provided at the sides and at the rear of sections containing drawers.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simplified and improved basic shelf construction having a minimum number of interchangeable parts and a minimum number of attachment points while still providing complete support for the shelves with respect to all vertical and lateral loads. The vertical support continua are advantageously located at the front corners and at positions spaced laterally inwardly. from the rear corners in order to rigidify the shelves. Accessory elements such as drawers, closure panels, slidingdoors and the like may be readily and efliciently incorporated through utilization of the same attachment points that are provided for the support elements. The shelf assemblies, either with or without accessory elements, maybe readily assembled and disassembled and may be revised in configuration to suit a variety of purposes.

Variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A shelf assembly comprising a pair of generally rigid planar shelves, at least three interchangeable sup port elements for securing said shelves in parallel spaced relation, each of said support elements consisting of a generally rigid body having only three shelf attachment portions which are disposed in spaced positions to define the corners of a right triangular figure, and means securing said attachment portions to said shelves with two of the attachment portions of each of saidelements disposed on a line perpendicular to said shelves, said elements being disposed with at least two elements in generally parallel planes and at least one element in a plane at an angle to said parallel planes with the attachmentportions of adjacent elements being spaced at least as far apart as the shortest distance between attachment portions of a single element.

2. A shelf assembly according to claim 1 including drawer slide members, said means securing said attachment portions at the same time securing said drawer slide members to said shelves, and drawers slidably supported on said drawer slide members.

3. A shelf assembly according to claim 1 including closure panel support brackets, said means securing said attachment portions at the same time securing said support brackets to said shelves, and closure panels secured in perpendicular relation to said shelves by said support brackets.

4. A shelf assembly comprising a pair of generally rigid planar shelves, at least three interchangeable support elements for securing said shelves in parallel spaced relation, each of said support elements consisting of a generally rigid body having only three shelf attachment portions which are disposed in spaced positions to define the corners of a right triangular figure, and means securing said attachment portions to said shelves to define planes perpendicular to said shelves with each of said attachment portions being separately secured to said shelves, at least two of said elements being disposed in generally parallel planes and at least one element being disposed in a plane at an angle to said parallel planes.

5. A shelf assembly according to claim 4 wherein an additional support element is disposed in a plane at an angle to said parallel planes.

6. A shelf assembly according to claim 4 wherein said shelves are of identical rectangular plan form and said two elements disposed in generally parallel planes are located at opposite edge portions of said pairs of shelves.

7. A shelf assembly according to claim 4 including accessory storage equipment carried by said shelves, and said means securing said attachment portions at the same time securing said accessory equipment to said shelves.

8. A shelf assembly according to claim 4 including a plurality of retainer clips, said means securing said attachment portions also securing said retainer clips to said shelves, a pair of door slides having their end portions secured to the respective shelves by said retainer clips, and closure doors slidably secured in said door slides perpendicular to said shelves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 365,690 Kochsmeier June 28, 1887 1,452,144 Carlin Apr. 17, 1923 1,603,742 Broderick Oct. 19, 1926 2,529,649 Coplen Nov. 14, 1950 2,766,092 Dennison Oct. 9, 1956 2,840,431 Budai June 24, 1958 

